Brad Crawford of 247Sports projects quarterback Cam Ward as ACC Player of the Year and the Miami football team to win 10 games and earn a berth in the College Football Playoff as part of his "ACC football: 10 bold predictions for 2024 season."
There is a lot of expectation for Miami, with ACC Kickoff beginning on Monday and the 2024 season 40 days away. The addition of Ward, Oregon State running back Damien Martinez and the 10th-ranked transfer class is expected to significantly improve the 2024 Miami roster.
Ward will appear with head coach Mario Cristobal, linebacker Francis Mauigoa and offensive tackle Jalen Rivers when Miami meets the media at ACC Kickoff on Wednesday. Mauigoa and Ward should be candidates for ACC Defensive and Offensive Players of the Year when the media votes this week.
Consensus projections rank Miami as the third favorite in the ACC behind Clemson and Florida State entering the 2024 season. Ward will play behind a Miami offensive line that ranks eighth-best by Pro Football Focus and throw to a receiving corps projected as the seventh-best entering 2024.
Calling our shot. Cam Ward will have a historic season at Miami and the Canes will statistically have the top offense in the ACC https://t.co/jVg7g7OCSQ pic.twitter.com/kxZLNXqVb5
— J.D. PicKell (@jdpickell) June 27, 2024
"3. CAM WARD WINS ACC PLAYER OF THE YEARBrad Crawford, 247Sports
Given how stout Miami's offensive line is expected (to) be..along with a bevy of talented playmakers around him, ex-Washington State transfer Cameron Ward could take the ACC by storm as the league's top quarterback, both in production and national notoriety....given uncertainty all around at quarterback in the ACC's top-tier, why not Ward for the league's player of the year?"
Crawford projects Florida State, Miami and North Carolina State to win 10 games in 2024. Miami hosts FSU on October 26 but does not play NC State. Crawford predicts Miami will lose at Georgia Tech and Louisville to finish 10-2 overall and 6-2 in the ACC. FSU and NCState are projected to finish 10-2, 7-1 by Crawford.
The predictions by Crawford would set up an FSU-NC State ACC Championship game. Crawford predicts FSU over NC State in the ACC Championship game. Miami's win over FSU and the loss by the Wolfpack to the Seminoles earns Miami a CFP berth per Crawford.
Crawford projects Florida State with a non-conference loss to Notre Dame and an NC State loss to Tennessee. Miami has been a frequent CFP team by multiple media outlets projecting the 2024 season. If Ward is the ACC Player of the Year, Miami should be a contender for a CFP berth in 2024.